Volunteer for a day with giant pandas on a private tour at the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Center. Help record panda behavior, clean enclosures and prepare food with a professional animal keeper as you get up close to China’s beloved black and white bears. Your volunteer service and program fee help ensure the survival of this vital species and contribute to the important work of the non-profit research facility — one of three bases that are part of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Let your guide know if you'd like to take a photo with one of these beautiful animals (additional fees apply). Lunch and round-trip hotel transport by private vehicle from Chengdu are included.

Highlights

Private full-day volunteer tour at the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Center

Learn to record panda activities as you observe the behavior of China's favorite bears

Support the staff with their cleaning and feeding duties at the non-profit research facility

Recent Photos of This Tour

That's me in the photo. How many people can say they have cleaned up panda poop!

Photo by: ed m
10
2014

Feeding Time

That's me feeding the hungry little panda!

Photo by: ed m
10
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

Volunteering at the Panda ...

Volunteering at the Panda Center

Photo by: Anonymous
08
2014

the logo/awesome gear you get ...

you have to, but not really wear this jump suit with this cool logo, mostly to keep you clothing clean.

Photo by: neu_jn
USA,
05
2014

Just an amazing experience

Well worth the price - I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

She held my hand...

You can see how happy I was

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

I think there was a ...

A once-in-a-lifetime moment..

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

Baby Pandas at Chengdu Panda ...

Playtime

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

Baby Pandas at Chengdu Panda ...

A little roughhousing!

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

Baby Pandas at Chengdu Panda ...

Playing with each other...

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

Baby Pandas at Chengdu Panda ...

They were having so much fun!

Photo by: JennyC
USA,
12
2013

Panda Base Volunteering

Feeding the pandas in the outdoor enclosures!

Photo by: Sydney G
12
2013

What You Can Expect

Baby Panda

China’s most symbolic animal is now an endangered species numbering just 2,000. Since 2011, the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Center, part of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), has made a home for injured and elderly bears, treated with utmost care in specialized facilities on a secluded, 126-acre (51-hectare) reserve of bamboo and parkland at the foot of a sacred mountain. Departing from your hotel after morning pickup, drive by private vehicle for approximately 1.5 hours to the non-profit rescue and research center. Receive a commemorative t-shirt, then switch vehicles and ride an excursion bus up to the top of the site, where you can observe resident pandas going about their daily lives.

Meet the panda keepers who work to create a natural environment for China’s most beloved animals, and receive a short training session. You can participate in two panda feedings — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — washing and carrying fresh bamboo, and preparing food like fruit, carrots and panda cakes. These nutritional treats are made with shredded bamboo mixed by hand with rice and egg to create a large, solid cake.

After your first volunteer session, enjoy your own lunch, provided for you at the center’s cafeteria.

Spend about an hour visiting the panda gardens before you resume your
volunteer work. Your guide provides a complete overview of panda
development so you can understand the bears’ progression from infancy to
adulthood. Stop at the sub-adult garden, where the adolescent pandas
between the ages of one and five years old hang out. Then observe
full-grown giant pandas in the adult area, where the bears can be seen
eating bamboo, sleeping and frolicking about.

In the afternoon, you’ll help clean the pandas’ indoor and outdoor enclosures, and may perhaps learn to record panda behavior or even assist with weighing the pandas (depending on the caretaker's schedule). After the pandas’ second feeding, take a break from your volunteer duties to walk around the panda center at leisure. You are free to use the computers and watch panda videos at the volunteer service center if you’d like.

Please note: The center limits direct contact with the animals to ensure their well-being. The duties of your volunteer service may be changed due to the needs on any given day, and are not guaranteed.

After a full day helping out with these impressive animals, you’ll receive a volunteer certificate and the satisfaction of contributing to a great cause. At the end of your tour, you’re transferred back to your hotel in Chengdu by private vehicle.

Customer Reviews

This was a brilliant day, we helped to look after pandas all day had a lovely lunch and my daughter and me had photos with a 2 year old panda. This tour was organised through Samtours and Sam picked us up from our hotel and looked after us all day at this wonderful place. We used Samtours all week including airport transfers. We had an excellent driver Mr Cheung and Andy, Lilleth, Rosa and Carol were our tour guides. We had a brilliant time in Chengdu with wonderful memories. Thank you Sam

Very interesting day of work. My center guide was very knowledgeable and I learned much about the Pandas. When you volunteer to work, you work! It was a once in a lifetime experience and I was glad that I could help support the Center.

Details

Inclusions

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Entrance fees

Volunteering fees

Photo with baby panda (if option selected)

Lunch

Local guide

Exclusions

Food and drinks, unless specified

Gratuities (optional)

Additional info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
What's this?

Local operator information

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.